CBU breaks ground for new engineering building

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new engineering
building on Dec. 14.

Riverside, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2016) – California Baptist University broke ground on its 100,000-square-foot
engineering building on Dec. 14. More than 250 faculty, staff and friends attended
the groundbreaking ceremony held between The Cottages and the business and music buildings.

Steve Davidson, chair of CBU board of trustees, gave a welcome message and prayer.

“This is the next great step forward for the development of CBU,” Davidson said.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, said this was another “wow” event in the history
of CBU.

“Every generation has its own challenges, its own opportunities, and we’re just at
that point where it’s our turn to grab the baton and run and run and run and do well
and be faithful and to hand it off to the next generation,” Ellis said. “The Lord
continues to bless as we continue to walk with our eyes focused on Christ. We also
have to roll up our sleeves be smart and work hard.”

Gordon Bourns, chairman and CEO of Bourns Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier
of electronic components, shared his excitement of the new building project.

“CBU interns and employees that we hire not only have outstanding engineering skills,
but they also have the character and communication ability to make a positive impact
on our company,” said Bourns. The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering bears
his and his wife’s names.

“We are preparing students of competence and character who are informed by a Christian
worldview, who are called to serve, equipped to lead, and sent to engage the world
with their lives in the appropriate use of technology,” said Dr. Anthony Donaldson,
dean of the College of Engineering.

The three-story building is targeted for completion in the summer of 2018. Plans
for the innovative building design will feature two blocks of classroom, faculty and
administrative space bracketing a massive engineering hall, providing multipurpose
space for labs, projects, exhibits, presentations and student collaboration, as well
as an interactive studio for K-12 STEM education.